The map above shows Florida and South Africa side by side at exactly the same scale, using equal-area projections, so their true relative sizes are preserved.
Florida vs South Africa Geography
Land area: Florida has a land area of 53,655 square miles (138,965 km²), while South Africa has 468,909 square miles (1,214,470 km²). South Africa's land area is 8.7 times (774%) larger than Florida's.
Total area: Florida: 71,404 square miles (184,934 km²) vs South Africa: 471,445 square miles (1,221,037 km²), including inland and coastal water. South Africa's total area is 6.6 times (560%) larger than Florida's.
Length: Florida is 471 miles (758 km) long from north to south; South Africa is 1,050 miles (1,690 km). South Africa's north-south length is 2.2 times (123%) longer than Florida's.
Width: Florida spans 547 miles (880 km) east to west; South Africa spans 1,012 miles (1,628 km). South Africa's east-west width is 1.9 times (85%) wider than Florida's.
Highest point: Florida's highest point is Britton Hill at 344 feet (105 m); South Africa's is Mafadi at 11,319 feet (3,450 m). Mafadi is 10,975 feet higher than Britton Hill.
Lowest point: Florida's lowest point is Atlantic Ocean at 0 feet; South Africa's is Indian Ocean at 0 feet. Both lowest points are at or near sea level.
Florida vs South Africa Population and History
Population: Florida has a population of 23,372,215 (2024), while South Africa has 63,522,380 (2026). South Africa's population is 2.7 times (172%) larger than Florida's.
Population density: Florida: 435.6 people per square mile vs South Africa: 135.5. Florida's population density is 3.2 times (221%) higher than South Africa's.
Biggest city: Florida's biggest city is Jacksonville with 1,009,833 people; South Africa's is Johannesburg with 4,803,262. Johannesburg's population is 4.8 times (376%) larger than Jacksonville's.
Largest metro area: Florida's largest metropolitan area is Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area (6,457,988 people) vs South Africa's Johannesburg (7,077,175). Johannesburg's population is 1.1 times (10%) larger than Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area's.
History: Florida: Admitted to the Union on March 3, 1845, as the 27th state. South Africa: Formed as the Union of South Africa on May 31, 1910; a republic since 1961. In its current form, Florida is the older of the two by 65 years.
Florida vs South Africa Economy
GDP: Florida's GDP is $1,726.7 billion (2024) vs South Africa's $427.2 billion. Florida's economic output is 4.0 times (304%) larger than South Africa's.
GDP per capita: Florida: $73,879 per person vs South Africa: $6,598. Florida's GDP per capita is 11.2 times higher than South Africa's.
Average income: Florida: $73,006 vs South Africa: $6,270 average income per person (per capita personal income). Florida's average income is 11.6 times higher than South Africa's.
Official Websites
Florida official website · South Africa official website
More Size Comparisons
All Florida size comparisons · All South Africa size comparisons
Area, elevation and boundary figures come from official national statistics and US Census Bureau and Natural Earth boundary data; US state population, economic, county and tax figures come from the US Census Bureau, the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Tax Foundation. Figures are rounded and for general reference.